Student Support Officer

Position: Student Support Officer

Contract: 12 month fixed-term contract

Reports to: Head of Students Affairs

Location: Hybrid (2 days per week in Dublin)

Overview:

A leader in career education since 2000, Hibernia College is Ireland's first accredited blended learning third-level institution. The College has grown rapidly in scale, strength and stature since its foundation and specializes in the delivery of programmes up to level 9 NFQ with particular focus in professional education, including initial teacher and nurse education programmes. An established leader in pioneering new education technologies, Hibernia College embraces change in the ever-evolving world of education, ensuring students receive best practice, real-time learning throughout its curricula with access to outstanding faculty and innovative technology.

Job Purpose:

The role of the Student Support Officer is to provide pastoral support to students across college programmes through the management and provision of information and guidance relating to College policies and procedures and direction to appropriate support mechanisms within the college. The Student Support Officer will assist in the management and enhancement of student engagement and well-being services at the College.

Responsibilities:

Student Support:

• Championing and effecting a high quality, student-centric culture of service provision.
• Be the first point of contact for:
  • Students who are struggling on a programme
  • Students looking for guidance and support
  • Students returning to study after a deferral
  • Students with reasonable accommodations
  • College staff, faculty and any other relevant third party, with concerns for a student who is struggling on a programme

• Provide students with relevant, accurate and appropriate information relating to potential support options that are available to them and the implications of these.
• Liaise with the Student Counselling Service to ensure students have the appropriate support and access.
• Take responsibility for the development of student support information, including within the VLE and on the College website.
• Work closely and collaboratively with academic programme teams and other student support services teams across the College to ensure the most appropriate support for students.

College Policies:

• Manage the implementation of the College's Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Policy:
  • Evaluate Reasonable Accommodation applications in line with College policy
  • Carry out a needs assessment with students
  • Make a recommendation for Registrar and Programme Director approval
  • Coordinate the implementation of agreed supports
  • Support students with Reasonable Accommodation requirements
  • Liaise with and support staff and faculty in the arrangement of supports for students with disabilities
• Manage the implementation of the College's Student Support Policy.
• Support and advise students who are considering deferring their studies. Monitor and support deferred students returning to study.
• In collaboration with the academic and management teams, monitor student engagement, identify and report on any problems or issues that emerge and coordinate any follow-up action required.
• Develop and contribute to systems, processes, policies and procedures associated with the non-academic student issues.

Student Experience:

• Ensure the appropriate dissemination of student information to relevant teams, in line with data protection legislation, to enable effective student management and progression.
• Support the Head of Student Affairs in devising initiatives to improve student experience, engagement and student well-being.
• Support the management of the student representative process
• Be responsible for and keep accurate student records in line with data protection policies and College housekeeping procedures.
• Work on recording data in a succinct manner that can be used by senior management for internal and external purposes • Perform any other reasonable duties associated to the assigned role.

Requirements/Qualifications:

• Relevant third level qualification or diploma
• Experience of providing support and guidance to students in a similar role in education • Excellent administrative and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise their work and to meet strict deadlines
• Experience and proven competence of working within a regulatory framework
• Ability to assess implications of courses of action within a defined regulatory framework
• Ability to identify signs of distress and provide direction to appropriate support services
• Proven competence in operating within clear professional boundaries when dealing with sensitive matters and information
• Excellent interpersonal skills including both verbal and written communication. Excellent attention to detail is a MUST
• Ability to work on their own and also within a team
• Clear evidence of self-motivation, with an ability to work under pressure as part of a constantly changing work environment
• Pro-active, enthusiastic and student-oriented approach to work
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office, in particular Excel

Please note this is a 12 month fixed-term contract to cover a career break

Please submit a comprehensive CV and supporting letter to support your application

Closing date for receipt of applications on 30th July 2026

Please note the College reserves the right to close the role prior to this date should a suitable applicant be found.